Pacific Islander Named Vice-Captain

For only the second time in its 50-year history, a Pacific Island student has been named vice-captain of Bankstown Girls’ High School – and her success is being attributed to a new empowerment program for Polynesian students, funded by Bankstown Sports Club.

Erina Finau, 16, was named vice-captain earlier this year. The last time this happened was in 2005.

The ‘Learning and Working to Your Strengths’ program targets Polynesian girls at the school who have been underachieving or are affected by social issues. Through mentoring, the program identifies the problems the girls are facing, allowing them to shed the burden so they can focus on their studies.

Girls from Polynesian heritage account for more than 10 per cent of the school’s students. In the past, statistics have shown they were falling by the wayside in terms of academic achievement and attendance.

Erina’s success is being seen as the result of a “massive change” in the confidence and identity Polynesian students now feel at the school since the initiative began last year.

The year 12 student, who is of Tongan and Maori descent, is part of the school’s talented debating team and is a high achiever both academically and on the sports field. She was part of the program thanks to Bankstown Sports’ $27,000 contribution provided through the Community Development Support Expenditure scheme (CDSE).

Siunipa Fifita, the school’s community liaison officer for Pacific Island students, says the program has allowed Erina and many others like her to find their voice.

 “Some of our girls come from homes that are very different from your average Australian home,” Ms Fifita says.

“They would bring their problems to school and we used to see them very withdrawn and holding back. It was almost like they still felt foreign despite calling Australia home.”

Ms Siunipa says there has been a profound turnaround in the attitude of the Pacific Island students. She says attendance levels are up and academic results have made a marked improvement.

“It has been a massive change,” she says. “They have opened up and feel more themselves. They are now proud of who they are.”

Bankstown Sports’ Secretary/Manager John Mackay says: “Everyone in the community has different needs and different ways of unlocking their potential. To see Erina succeeding because of our support is very satisfying.”

Bankstown Sports has been a long-time supporter of the school and other institutions like it. The club plays a valuable role in supporting its local community through both grassroots financial support and in-kind support worth millions of dollars every year. 

The club, which celebrated 50 years in 2008, has given more than $58 million to the local community since 1985.

Contact: Sue Nelson, Quick Thinking Communications, 0403 343 275, 02 9939 3555 or sue@qtcommunications.com.